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18-01-2014

ARA News

Qamishli, Syria− Leadership of the Kurdish forces of the Popular Protection Units (YPG) −affiliated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD)− demanded on Wednesday the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC) to clarify its position towards the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) which declared “hostility” towards the YPG.

The SNC −main body of Syrian opposition− issued a statement in December, 2013 in which it accused the YPG forces of ties with the Syrian regime in the war against Syria rebels. The Kurdish council −which is a member in the SNC ranks− was blamed by the YPG leadership for silence towards the SNC’s attitude regarding the Popular Protection Units (YPG).

The SNC’s statement came while the Kurdish YPG forces were fighting against Islamists (mainly Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and ISIL) in the Hasaka province, northeast Syria. The Syrian National Coalition considered the YPG as an anti-revolution group which should fought by the rebels.

The YPG blamed the Kurdish Nationan Council for staying in the ranks of the SNC, considering its continuity as a declaration of war against other Kurdish factions, especially after the recent statement by the Coalition.

“The KNC is an integral part of the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC). The council is demanded to determine its position concerning this hostile discourse towards the Kurdish people and its institutions; otherwise we will consider the KNC as a partner in shedding the blood of the Kurdish people and partner in opposing the gains of our people,” the Wednesday’s YPG statement read. “We will continue defending Western Kurdistan (Syria Kurdish areas) and all its social components against the extremists.”

The KNC’s response came on Friday, when the council said that it wasn’t informed about the statement and “was surprised as others with its content, especially with regard to the YPG forces”.

On the one hand, Mohamed Kheir Bengo, representative of the KNC in the Syrian National Coalition, stated in an interview with ARA News that the KNC was supposed to be notified about the coalition’s intention to issue such a statement, “especially as it concerns the situation in the Kurdish areas in Syria”.

“The KNC, as representative of Syria Kurds in the National Coalition, should be active participant in any issues regarding the Kurdish areas in Syria, and we denied our responsibility with regard to the coalition’s statement which caused rifts within the Kurdish ranks in Syria,” Bengo said.

He added that a meeting is planned between the KNC representatives in the coalition and the SNC’s leadership to discuss the matter and emphasize the importance of consulting the KNC before issuing any official statements in regard with the Kurdish situation in Syria.

“We count as responsible for any decisions made by the coalition when the Kurdish issue and Syrian Kurds are concerned,” Bengo told ARA News.

This comes a day after the funeral of 31 YPG fighters in the city of Qamishli, who fell in the battles against al-Qaeda-linked ISIL in Tel Hamis and Tal Barak towns in Qamishli suburbs. Thousands of residents participated in the event.